Las Tortugas

Chris called me from his office a few months ago to tell me that he had been invited to present at a captive insurance conference on Grand Cayman in December. Was I interested in joining him? What kind of a question is that? Have I ever passed up an opportunity for sun and sand, especially in December? Not a chance!!

Ah...breathe in that moist tropical air and feel the sun on your skin...delicious! "We're not in Kansas anymore," I chuckled to Chris as we climbed out of the plane and walked across the tarmac.

These islands were originally named Las Tortugas by Christopher Columbus in 1503 after the numerous sea turtles seen swimming in the surrounding waters. By 1530, they were known as the Caymans, a Carib word for marine crocodiles. We didn't see any crocs but did spy a young turtle just off the beach. Here are a few other things we saw:

Red and green Christmas lights wrapped around the trunks of palm trees. There's something about this picture that just doesn't seem right to this mid-western girl!!

Fine, white sand beaches and that beautiful blue Caribbean water. (Cute pedicures, too!) Flat bottom boats. Here we are boarding one for a little cruise out to sea. The jerking and tilting due to it's flat bottom will cause me to be puking my guts out in about an hour! Blueck! Turn down service...How do I get my kids to do this for me? Beautiful boxed lunches served by the pool...yummy!

Iguanas...they were all over the resort. This one decided to join me for lunch one day.

Luckily, he was more interested in this gorgeous green vegetation than my Caribbean jerk chicken quesadilla.

Iguanas also like a dip in the pool to cool off! Who knew?

Courteous Ritz Carlton employees.

"Excuse me, madam. Would you like a cold, cinnamon-scented cloth to refresh yourself this afternoon?" "Why, yes, Mariappan, I would! Thank you." Delightful!

Another iguana...this one a little larger and definitely fiercer looking.

Pirates...Aargh!! And, last but not least, we saw lovely sunsets.

After four perfect days of laying by the pool, sunning on the beach, walking in the surf, snorkeling over a reef, and being waited on hand and foot, imagine my shock at returning to Kansas City's 18 degree weather and our house burned down to the ground! Just kidding!!! We left Chase and Marissa home alone, and they and the house survived just fine! I'm not joking about the temperature, though. I'm planning my next trip to the tropics right now!